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COMMONWEALTHAct
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s 17

Competence and compellability: defendants in criminal proceedings

In force
Chapter 2Adducing evidence
Part 2.1Witnesses
Division 1Competence and compellability of witnesses

17 Competence and compellability: defendants in criminal proceedings

(1)

This section applies only in a criminal proceeding.

(2)

A defendant is not competent to give evidence as a witness for the prosecution.

(3)

An associated defendant is not compellable to give evidence for or against a defendant in a criminal proceeding, unless the associated defendant is being tried separately from the defendant.

(4)

If a witness is an associated defendant who is being tried jointly with the defendant in the proceeding, the court is to satisfy itself (if there is a jury, in the jury’s absence) that the witness is aware of the effect of subsection (3).

Note:

Associated defendant is defined in the Dictionary.

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